Abstract: A laser-welding apparatus may include a laser source, an incoming laser beam produced by the laser source, and a beam splitter that splits the incoming laser beam to form a leading beam and a trailing beam. A first focusing lens may focus the leading beam and a second focusing lens may focus the trailing beam to form a trailing-beam pattern on a workpiece. The trailing-beam pattern may include a crescent-shape having arms and a tail portion.

Abstract: An arrangement and method are provided for acoustographic diagnosis of abnormalities of a product, such as motor vehicle, that includes associating psychoacoustic vector beam data with a three-dimensional graphic surface model, and analyzing the three-dimensional graphic surface model to identify at least a portion thereof associated with unacceptable psychoacoustic levels.

Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a rotating member and using coolant in a liquid cooling system, is provided that comprises a radiator for dissipating the heat from the coolant, an electric pump for pumping the coolant through the cooling system, a mechanical pump operatively connected to the rotating member for pumping coolant through the cooling system, and a clutch for disengaging the second pump for minimizing the parasitic loss of the system and improving total fuel economy of the vehicle.

Abstract: A modular vehicle floor system is provided that has a floor pan with integrated storage compartments. A floor is defined by a deck and compartment lids that overlie the floor pan and can provide a waterproof seal for the storage compartments. The deck and compartment lids together define a substantially flat surface that is covered by a vehicle carpet. The deck can include basket-like liners extending downwardly therefrom that nest within the storage compartments and define the inner surface(s) of usable spaces within the storage compartments. The deck includes a raceway system with one or more troughs or ports that house lengths of vehicle wiring, under the deck surface. The deck can further include flanges and/or tabs for serving as mounting substrates, against which sills and other hard trim components are mounted, allowing trim components to be mounted to the deck and not mounted directly to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle that is rotatable and removable. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a mounting assembly having a first portion that releasably attaches the seat bottom to the vehicle and a second portion. The second portion permits rotation of the seat bottom relative to the first portion and the vehicle and permits translation of the seat bottom relative to the first portion and the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for providing an improved compact power transfer unit for use in motor vehicles having a front wheel drive transverse based engine and transaxle, and, more particularly, to a power transfer unit for use with a transaxle arrangement capable of providing all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The present invention discloses a planetary gear utilizing a fixed ring gear, the planetary gear capable of selectively engaging a low range output from the power transfer unit for propelling the vehicle when driven in off-road conditions requiring higher torque and slower speeds. The vehicle driver can selectively engage a normal, high range where torque flows through the planetary gear directly to the drive shaft with no gear reductions, or the driver may selectively engage the low range where the torque flowing into the planetary gear is redirected and reduced thereby providing higher torque with reduced speed.

Abstract: A roof-rack assembly for a vehicle includes a roof having a first support member extending along a length thereof. A second support member is spaced apart from the first support member and extends along a length of the roof. At least one cross-member extends between and is attached to the first support member and the second support member and is movable between a use position and a stowed position relative to the roof. The at least one cross-member extends away from a surface of the roof in the use position and is received generally within the roof in the stowed position.

Abstract: One implementation of a six-speed transmission includes a first gearset including first and second planetary gearsets each having a number of teeth. The transmission also has a second gearset including a third planetary gearset operably associated with the first and second planetary gearsets. The third planetary gearset has an equal number of teeth with respect to one of the first and second planetary gearsets. The transmission also has a first plurality of shift elements operably associated with the first and second planetary gearsets, each of the first plurality of shift elements being movable between a released state and an applied state to selectively engage at least one of the first and second planetary gearsets. The transmission also has a second plurality of shift elements operably associated with the third planetary gearset, each of the second plurality of shift elements being movable between a released state and an applied state to selectively engage the third planetary gearset.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power split transmission with two Electric Variable Transmission (EVT) modes and four fixed gears for use in hybrid electrical vehicles (HEV). The present disclosure utilizes two electric motors (“E-motors”), an engine, three planetary gear sets, and four selectively engageable clutches. The clutches are engaged in different combinations to engage the different gears and EVT modes. In the four fixed gears, power is transmitted only on the mechanical path for the highest transmission efficiency. In the two EVT modes, a part of the power is transmitted electrically. Alternatively, the E-motors can be located in the middle integrated with the transmission design. Advantageously, the present invention works with lower component speeds than existing two-mode hybrid transmissions. This can be achieved with a front E-motor design enabling modularity and also with a center E-motor design.

Abstract: A cooled exhaust gas recirculation system includes one or more cylinders, each with several valves, an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation chamber. The cooled exhaust gas recirculation chamber removes a portion of the exhaust that exits the cylinders, cools the removed portion of the exhaust, and recirculates the cooled removed portion of the exhaust for reintroduction into the cylinders. The cooled recirculated exhaust is reintroduced directly to the cylinders using a dedicated valve controlled by an electronic control unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping torsional vibration in a shaft, having a plurality of retainer pockets spaced from each other in the direction of the shaft's axis of rotation and connected for contemporaneous rotation with the shaft, and a plurality of disks each disposed within one of the retainer pockets, each retainer pocket having a circular track wall, each disk being free to shift perpendicular to the shaft's axis of rotation to engage and move along the circular track wall in response to the vibration, wherein each circular retainer pocket has a center that is at a predetermined radial offset distance relative to the shaft's axis of rotation and the respective radial offsets are angularly spaced from each other about the shaft's axis of rotation.

Abstract: A transmission used in a hybrid vehicle comprising a planetary gear set and a synchronizer. The planetary gear set having a plurality of members and the synchronizer coupling and decoupling one of the members to change a speed ratio in the transmission.

Abstract: Vehicle descent is controlled in at least one implementation by comparing an engine braking torque to a target engine braking torque, and controlling one or more vehicle brakes to maintain the engine braking torque substantially at the target engine braking torque. The target engine braking torque may be varied as a function of one or more factors or conditions, such as accelerator position or brake application pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for reducing misfire in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The method includes detecting a misfire event frequency that is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, determining a pulse-width signal for a fuel injector associated with the cylinder during the misfire event, increasing the pulse-width signal if the misfire event is frequency is below a second predetermined value, and reducing the increase in the pulse-width signal if the misfire event frequency is below the first predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting side glass in a convertible vehicle body, prior to assembly of a convertible top on the vehicle body, includes a fixture adapted to engage multiple convertible top locating points on the vehicle's header and rear deck-lid shelf. Sensors mounted on the fixture detect the position of the raised side glass relative to the locating points and provide relative position information to an assembly operator, for example, through use of LED arrays, whereby the assembly operator can quickly set the side glass to a target position with which to achieve a desired side glass engagement with the convertible top, upon subsequent assembly of the convertible top to the vehicle body.